The Coming Dawn Trilogy

by Austen Knowles

“She looks like she hasn’t even reached her second maturity! I’m not uniting with an immature girl,” Noxis snapped. “Get Vergara. I like her better.”

  “I’m twenty,” Onya repudiated, not hiding her ire. “I’ll always look young, as my mother does. Don’t pass me up again. I won’t be second to anyone. Besides Vergara won’t bond with anyone, and has widely circulated that she wants King Cobaaron once his partner is dead.” Ky’s mouth dropped, deeply offended.

  “Is that so,” Noxis huffed unhappily, obviously changing his mind about a woman who wanted his brother. He continued to growl as he considered Onya, but then nothing about the obligatory marriage pleased him. Nevertheless, he took three steps toward Onya, and cut her finger. Onya winced. Noxis then slit his palm, rubbed her finger into his blood, and squeezed her wound. Their blood dripped to the floor, as he held her finger tightly.

  At first, nothing happened. Then as Onya watched Noxis make their union, he began to change. His deep, dark brown eyes changed to a Caribbean Sea blue. His hair lengthened until it was to his shoulders and lightened to the shade of creamy coffee. Onya changed as well. Her hair brightened to a strawberry blonde, and lengthened. Her hips widened, but the change was subtle. Ky noticed the added inches, because like his brother, she too was changed to have unnaturally wide hips. Onya’s eyes slowly turned an intense green.

  “Then it’s done,” Octavos said, happily. “You’ll soon know the persuasion of a woman, and see there’s no magic in it.”

  “You stay away from me, Onya,” Noxis hissed, and released her hand. He continued to squeeze his hand to stop the flow, and stormed from the room in anger.

  “Don’t worry, Onya. He’s a good guy,” Ambrosia assured her. Ky knew Ambrosia well enough to be certain Noxis and she rarely spoke. Ambrosia must have decided to be more truthful because she added, “At least you have time to get use to being united with him. They aren’t demanding it be completed tonight.”

  “No, you will go to him each night, if only to let him send you away,” Octavos barked. “If his name fades from your hand, you will bond with him again. I dare say you two won’t be able to fight it long, a week or two at most. Men who have never lain with a woman tend to rush things. Go and see to it that you’re always in his sight. But don’t speak to him unless he engages first.”

  Once the commotion died, they went to the city center. The women cooked a large meal, as the warriors knelt on blistering salt. Noxis was appointed to berate the men for thinking Ky was a witch and for allowing their fellow comrade to try to take her life. “It is your duty to stop any attempt on the chief’s partner,” Noxis kept bellowing. As he barked dire warnings, the men groaned and howled as the salt dried their skin and cut small wrinkles in their knees; the seeping acid stung cruelly.

  When the hour was up, the men stood with dried, cracked knees, which split open even more as they walked. They limped as they made their way to the hall for breakfast. By the time all the warriors were finished eating the minced meat and eggs from hooter birds, their knees were completely healed and they made their way down to the mud lake, leaving Beryl.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Huntra chased field mice, as everyone walked the valley with the city to their backs. There wasn’t a lot of food on the island beyond the hooter birds, and so Cobaaron asked Ky to walk while Huntra hunted and ate. They slowly strode in a long parade as they crossed the valley. Cobaaron was quiet, which meant he was thinking. His silence didn’t go unnoticed by Octavos. “You did right, making your brother bond.”

  “I’m not concerned about that. I’ve wasted enough time being angry with him. I’m thinking about how to approach Rathe’s castle.”

  “Well, you have several days to decide. A week at the rate we’re going,” Octavos jested, referring to the slow women. He grinned from ear-to-ear, finding his own joke amusing. His humor was a characteristic Ky was seeing in Octavos more and more. He was a playful man when he wished to be. “We could always take a longer route and pass under the mountains of goblins,” he advised, after he thought about it.

  “We would be in more danger taking that road. They would kill us, thinking we’re after their gold. It wouldn’t be safe. I thought of that option, but there has to be another way of approaching unseen.”

  “There is,” Ky spoke up. The two men stared, waiting for her to elaborate. “If you want the army unseen, I hate to keep bringing it up, but Ambrosia has her room where Athaya is hiding. Have the warriors wait there while the three of us approach the walls of his castle.” Ky pointed to Cobaaron and herself, and then gestured to Ambrosia a few feet back accompanied by Tyrus and his two close friends.

  “Is this space large enough for my men?” Cobaaron asked. “Tell me about this room. I have heard very little of Hyun’s cupboard. I always suspected it to be small.”

  Ky wasn’t sure if they were even talking about the same thing. “What is his cupboard?”

  “I’ve never seen it, but I hear he stores things in it. I’ve only summoned him, and have never seen it. Until the other day, when you mentioned Ambrosia’s room, I thought the rumors of his cupboard were untrue. You said you went in there. How big is it?”

  “It was large, and she did store a lot of magical instruments. If it were organized, there would probably be enough space. At least all the women and scores of warriors could fit. I was thinking she could magically alter it. She knows magic, which I have yet to see the limit of its capabilities. Ask her to make it bigger.”

  Cobaaron spun on his heel, and waved for Tyrus who brought Ambrosia, Ram and Parson. “Ambrosia, could my men fit in your room?”

  “They could…” Ambrosia agreed, hesitantly.

  “I need your room for my men,” Cobaaron informed her as they continued their march. “I want to hide the women and my warriors in there, while you accompany Ky and myself on Huntra’s back when he’s finished hunting. Either Octavos or Tyrus will have to watch over you, for your safety. My design is when we approach the city you’ll open your room letting my men out.”

  “Yes, my King, but,” Ambrosia blushed pink with obvious embarrassment, “can you give me a few hours to tidy?”

  “My men are still being disciplined for the attack on my partner. My men will clean your room.”

  Ambrosia cringed, not thrilled about everyone seeing her mess, and said so, but when Cobaaron expressed that time was of the essence, she caved to his wishes. “I’ll make boxes that will organize themselves if your men would put my things into them carefully, but they’ll have to be very mindful,” Ambrosia stressed, to emphasize her breakable trinkets could be dangerous.

  “Of course,” Cobaaron said, “then it’s settled. We’ll travel swiftly on Huntra to the castle, but the journey will be strenuous for him. He will be exhausted from running. I’ll want him to rest in the safety of your room once in the mountains.”

  “I understand,” Ambrosia said.

  “He’s very fast, and we’ll be there before Zevera expects us. We may have the element of surprise,” Cobaaron said, smiling at Ky. There was a twinkle in his eyes that expressed gratitude for her input, as he momentarily put his hand on her cheek before meeting Ambrosia’s watchful attention to add, “What do you need us to do?”

  Before anything was done, Octavos interrupted. “I’m sure my partner would rather I accompany her while she is pregnant. She doesn’t like to be alone around the jealous women in case they harm her.”

  “Say no more, Octavos. I’ve already appointed young Tyrus to watch over Ambrosia.” Cobaaron then asked, “Do we need to stop for you to make these boxes, Ambrosia?”

  “No, but a slower pace would help.”

  As they walked, Ambrosia summoned her wand from her open room by simply raising her hand. She clutched it firmly and muttered as wooden containers appeared before her. She charmed each floating crate with etched gold letters, writing labels with very sloppy handwriting, because Ambrosia’s hand was unsteady while moving, before she’d make an extra swipe to correct t
he calligraphy.

  Each time she labeled a box for contents, it flew into her room. They walked the entire length of the valley before she finished fashioning the last few crates. “I could probably make a few more once everyone is inside. Though, I’ll have to pass them to someone so I’m not knocking people about with my magic.” Cobaaron waved for the warriors to start marching forward. Ambrosia used her finger to draw a much larger entrance, in the shape of a wide arch. She opened the invisible entry, and as she did, Ky could see into her room. The blue stack of miscellaneous magical objects blocked the door from opening all the way. Ambrosia blushed, and apologized as she mumbled in mortification.

  “Clear the mess blocking the door, and put them in the crates to make way for the other men. Don’t break anything. Take care or you’ll pay with blistering salt again,” Octavos warned the first few men as they sidestepped into the room, dodging the blue pile.

  “Handle everything as if it could harm you if you’re clumsy,” Noxis added as a warning, “because some possibly could.”

  Ambrosia went into her room to show a few men where to stack boxes, and when she came out she cast a spell to expand her room. She apologized, saying, “I only know a very slow expanding spell. It will take an hour before there is adequate space for everyone.”

  “Well, it will take that long to get all my men inside, I’m sure.”

  It wasn’t long before Ambrosia was smiling, cheerfully crooning her appreciation and relief for the help with much needed tidying up. Then she started making several large pillows giving one to each woman as they sauntered in. “Oh, can you tell your men not to touch my toy warriors. They may talk tough, but they’re harmless. Also, I need a small hill of rocks by the crates. If the warriors could carry some rocks in and drop them in a heap for me…”

  “Whatever you need, Ambrosia.” Cobaaron gave a nod, pretending he understood why the toys would need stones. Ambrosia magically formed a mound of rocks by her room door, but when she didn’t see Cobaaron tell his men to leave the toy warriors alone, she gently asked him again. “I told them.” Cobaaron pointed to his head, and a passing warrior informed Ambrosia he spoke to them with his thoughts.

  Tyrus was standing nearby and added, “He’s very loud sometimes. Amazing how a Star can change a man. Pity you have to unite with one to receive such a blessing.”

  Ambrosia glowered at him. “Well, you would think uniting is torture. You will never unite, and therefore will never be blessed. You’ll always stay at the skill level you are now, unless you happen upon another mermaid,” Ambrosia replied with a snarky sneer.

  “I’m a warrior and warriors can’t love. That is fact; it’s impossible. Women are distractions. Nothing good comes from women. Look at witches—women.”

  Ambrosia’s eyes narrowed. “So I have heard. And all warriors are heartless, chasing only dreams of glory.”

  “What is wrong with wanting to be a warrior?”

  “Nothing,” Ambrosia scathed. “But you forget Cobaaron has married. He loves, and is a warrior. He’s the greatest warrior this world has ever seen, or will ever know. He’s the king to restore light. A woman made him better. You’re twisting the truth,” Ambrosia smugly smirked, “on all accounts. Do you forget I’m a healer’s daughter, Tyrus? I know your deepest thoughts, which come to me in my dreams. I know what haunts you at night. You can not lie to me.”

  Tyrus stared at Ambrosia with a hard to read expression. As usual, he chose to say nothing else and then slowly twisted around, slipping into Ambrosia’s room in a single step.

  “What was that about?” Ky asked Ambrosia when Tyrus was out of earshot. Ky never saw her so snide.

  “Nothing.” Ambrosia shrugged. “I’m sick of him lecturing me. If Ram or Parson even come close to me I’m jinxing them.” Ambrosia growled, “Tyrus knows how much I hate being called a good-for-nothing woman. It’s something he’s said since he was ten. He doesn’t mean it though. Ignore us. We never get along, but it’s only a matter of time before he’s nice again and we drop it.” She lowered her voice saying they were in a middle of a tiff, which kindled from a lengthy scolding the night before, and then her voice trailed off.

  “You’ve known him that long?”

  “I’ve known him longer than that. He frustrated me then, and he still continues to even to this day.” Ambrosia winked as if she didn’t truly mean it.

  “Well, he did accuse you of putting a love potion on him.”

  “Like me, he says things he doesn’t mean,” Ambrosia said, and then drew another plush pillow much like a large beanbag and held it out for the woman who approached.

  “I think I’m pregnant, Ambrosia, I need a much larger pillow,” Vergara said, not accepting the soft seat.

  “When you know that you’re pregnant, I’ll make you something more comfortable. This is simply a temporary pillow as I grow additional trees. Take it. Sit while the men clean, if only to stay out of their way.”

  Vergara huffed, took the pillow, and entered Ambrosia’s room. There was audible disapproval, but Vergara soon stepped out of sight.

  “I’m so glad Noxis didn’t unite with her. She has enough lovers as it is, and we would never hear the end of her complaining and bragging.” Ambrosia grinned at Ky.

  “I know,” Ky agreed, and snickered.

  “I cringed when Noxis said her name. Onya is a sweet girl, I suppose. I had a dream about them. They sat side by side at a feast, but I couldn’t tell if they were simply eating dinner next to each other because they had to, or if there was romance. We were in an elf city, too, and we haven’t come close to an elf city. It may have been a dream, not a vision. Anyway, it was a spur of the moment suggestion, but they consented. I guess it was meant to be.” Ambrosia sniggered silently, and Ky knew why. She joined in the laughter that Ambrosia pushed the idea of the marriage because of a dream that had little proof of affection or reality. Ambrosia continued to snigger as she asked, “Should I jinx Vergara’s pillow to have red ivy that will make her itch?” Ky cracked up, and wanted to give approval. After hearing Vergara intended to secure Cobaaron should she die, she despised her, but in the end she thanked Ambrosia for sticking up for her but said it wasn’t necessary.

  “Well, too late.” Ambrosia sniggered, and Ky manically laughed with her mischievous friend. After that, they kept sniggering and glancing at Vergara as she scratched.

  Two hours later, the men were crowded in the slowly expanding room as Cobaaron, Tyrus, Ambrosia, and Ky were sitting comfortably on Huntra’s saddles as he pranced down a hill. Now that women weren’t slowing their pace, they quickly crossed a great distance. The hills became flat land, and several miles later they began a downward slope. A half-day’s journey brought them alongside a rocky basin, and within minutes descended to the stony, dry riverbed.

  “This is the wanderers’ territory,” Tyrus whispered.

  “It’s also right after ash season. They hold celebrations and most of them are in the mountains. But once we reach the forest, we should be cautious,” Cobaaron said.

  “Do you hear that?” Ambrosia asked, looking at Tyrus.

  “No,” Cobaaron and Ky said at the same time.

  “What do you hear?” Tyrus entreated her to elaborate.

  “It’s a magical buzzing. Something is wrong with the rocks.”

  “It may be a protection of the wanderers,” Cobaaron said.

  A rock smashed onto the ground with a loud crash. It grazed Huntra’s head, nicking the tip of his ears. Huntra hissed, and Prism flew around his head, protectively coming to his aid by buzzing around. Cobaaron stood and scanned the cliff in the direction the chucked rock originated.

  “They hide, but rock giants are clinging to the walls,” Cobaaron said in a soft warning to Tyrus. “Take the women to the edge of the dry riverbed. Whatever you do, don’t leave them; do not leave my wife, young Tyrus.”

  “I will protect them with my life, Chief,” Tyrus vowed.

  Cobaaron hopped off Huntra, but as requeste
d, Huntra hurried to the grassy shore and waited. Cobaaron stood alone, scanning the landscape. Ky didn’t see anything until she saw a rock move along the sharp stone wall. She was amazed how large the giant was, and how well it hid among the cliff. “Show yourselves. I know you’re there,” Cobaaron bellowed. At first nothing happened. But slowly, three stone heads twisted and peered over shoulders, revealing big, bulky bodies clinging to the steep wall. Ky suspected there were more, but they were too well camouflaged.

  One of the giants let go of the cliff, and rotated its entire body, first the upper portion, then the lower, before facing Cobaaron as it dropped to the ground onto two feet. The giant began throwing huge rocks at Cobaaron. It was slow, but they threw the stones hard and fast. Cobaaron sprung out of the way, but only just in time, letting the boulders miss him by inches. The shattering stones pelted him. But Cobaaron didn’t charge. He let it throw several more. Then another bounded off the crag, and then a third. Still Cobaaron didn’t do anything, but let them throw rocks.

  “What is he doing?” Ambrosia asked, wondering why he wasn’t fighting.

  “He’s looking for a weakness,” Tyrus explained, without taking his eyes off Cobaaron. “So far they leave all their limbs vulnerable to be ripped off, which isn’t good. It could mean they may restore the rocks and never die, because they don’t worry about damage to their bodies. It would be pointless to fight them. If that is the case, he’s forming a plan. We can’t hide, because they can shed stones and follow us anywhere. We can’t run forever. Give him time. Making the wrong decision could mean death to us all. Be thankful he’s thinking through to the end.”

  “I’m very thankful,” Ambrosia said. “Do you think a spell would help?”

  “No. Magic will make it worse. Stay quiet, Ambrosia, and they may not seek your life because you’re a woman.” Tyrus patted her shoulder, as a reassuring gesture, but his touch made them uncomfortable when Ambrosia glared at his hand and leaned away. He stiffened when he realized what he had done, and they both turned, ignoring each other.